What are the schools like in Hermiston, OR?

Hermiston is served primarily by Hermiston SD 8. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.6:1.

What is the median household income in Hermiston?

The median household income in Hermiston, OR is $65,502 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.4%.

What is the weather like in Hermiston, OR?

Hermiston has an average high temperature of 43.3°F in January and 92.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 8.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 3.7 inches.

Hermiston, OR Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Hermiston, OR affordable or expensive?

Hermiston's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hermiston is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $239,200 and the median rent is $961 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Hermiston, OR?

Hermiston has a violent crime rate of 317.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3225.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hermiston, OR a Good Place to Live?

Hermiston is a small city of 19,267 in Oregon, with a median household income of $65,502 and a 7.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

Strengths: Hermiston stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Hermiston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hermiston city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 98.9

Hermiston's overall cost of living index is 98.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hermiston costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hermiston, OR	National Avg
Median Home Value	$239,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$961	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	61.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$65,502	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Hermiston's violent crime rate is 317.9 per 100,000 residents — 16% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

317.9 /100k

Property Crime

3225.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Hermiston is served primarily by Hermiston SD 8. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hermiston, OR	National Avg
School District	Hermiston SD 8	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	74.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hermiston sees average highs of 43.3°F in January and 92.7°F in July, with 8.6 inches of annual precipitation and 3.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hermiston, OR
Average High — January	43.3°F
Average High — July	92.7°F
Annual Precipitation	8.6"
Annual Snowfall	3.7"

Demographics

Metric	Hermiston, OR	National Avg
Population	19,267	—
Median Age	31.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	68.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	26.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	29.7%	22.2%
65 and over	12.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Stanfield, OR 5 mi Umatilla, OR 6 mi Echo, OR 8 mi Irrigon, OR 11 mi Boardman, OR 20 mi

ZIP Codes in Hermiston

Hermiston, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

97838

Hermiston vs Other Cities

Hermiston, OR vs Stanfield, OR Hermiston, OR vs Umatilla, OR Hermiston, OR vs Echo, OR Hermiston, OR vs Irrigon, OR Hermiston, OR vs Boardman, OR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hermiston, OR affordable or expensive?

Hermiston's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hermiston roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $239,200 and median rent is $961/month.

What is the crime rate in Hermiston, OR?

Hermiston's violent crime rate is 317.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3225.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hermiston?

Public schools in Hermiston are operated by Hermiston SD 8. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1. 16.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hermiston, OR a good place to live?

Hermiston, OR has a population of 19,267, a median household income of $65,502, and an unemployment rate of 7.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Hermiston?

Hermiston averages 43.3°F in January and 92.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 8.6 inches with about 3.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hermiston?

Hermiston, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 97838.

What is the population of Hermiston?

The population of Hermiston, Oregon is 19,267 with a median age of 31.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hermiston?

Key numbers for living in Hermiston: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $239,200, median household income $65,502, crime index 112 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hermiston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.